How to get kids started with fishing

By Ralph Scherder

When my wife was pregnant with our first child, friends told me my life was going to change in ways I wouldn’t always appreciate. Sure, many things would change for the better, and my life would no doubt be full of the joys of parenthood, but what they really meant was that I wouldn’t be able to fish as much as usual – if at all.

I didn’t listen, of course. Fishing was a huge part of my childhood and is a cornerstone of my adult life, and more than anything in the world, I looked forward to someday sharing the outdoors with my kids. And my friends’ warnings served as a personal challenge to make the outdoors as much of an integral part of the lives of my children as it is mine.

But let’s be clear. I now have two kids, aged 5 and 7. In no way have I ever felt like this was imposing my will on my kids, or making them do something because it was my passion, not theirs. All studies show that time spent outdoors is good for us in all facets of life. It’s relaxing, reduces stress and cortisone levels, and helps us sleep better. All of these (and a whole lot more!) are reasons why so many people turned to the outdoors during the pandemic. Teaching our kids to enjoy being outside – and enjoy fishing! – is an important step toward helping them live healthier and happier lives.

Getting kids started with fishing isn’t always easy, though. Nowadays, so many distractions vie for their attention and time, and it’s hard to carve out those few hours to go sit by a lake or adventure along a trout stream. But here are a few things that have worked for me so far, and hopefully they will work for you.

Start Early, Go Often

However, I highly recommend keeping these outings short at first, an hour or two at most. Also, take lots of breaks to just sit on the bank and interact with them. I always made sure to face the stroller or carrier so that they could see me, too – and I was sure to show them every fish I caught, which often induced looks of fascination and smiles.

Now that my kids are older and walking along streams with me, I still keep most outings short. Two to three hours is a typical outing now. We head down to the lake for a couple hours on a Saturday morning or an evening after school. Sometimes they fish and sometimes they would rather play in the mud, and both scenarios are fine with me.

Whenever possible, though, I try to engage them in what I’m doing. If I hook a fish, for instance, I let one of them reel it in or net it. This helps them feel like they contributed to
the success.

The most important part of going early and often is to establish the outdoors as part of your family routine. Fishing then becomes a lifestyle, ingrained in them from a young age.

Make it Fun

Sometimes I think the main reason my kids and I go fishing is so that we can eat snacks. Every fishing trip begins with a mandatory stop at the local convenience store to buy chips, pretzels, or some of their favorite drinks. I would wager that this might even be what they look forward to most about fishing with dad!

And that’s okay. One of the best ways to get kids started with fishing is to associate it with other fun things, like a stop for goodies. Or maybe you begin a tradition of getting an ice cream cone on the way home. It can be anything, as long as it’s fun.

Take Them to a Pay Lake

First, they learn how to cast, set the hook, and play fish on their own with no help from me. It can be a lot easier to teach these fundamentals in a controlled environment such as this, too, because they get steady action and plenty of opportunities to learn. These repetitions help them improve their skills much faster.

Second, they have an absolute blast doing it, especially if they hook into a big one. The advantage of having two kids is that it’s also an opportunity to teach them how to work together as they net each other’s fish when they get one.

And third, we then take home their catch and cook the trout they caught for dinner. This teaches a very important lesson about the circle of life and the thrill of providing a meal for the family. Most of the time we practice catch and release, and we have plenty of conversations about conservation, but it’s also good to teach kids that it’s okay to occasionally keep some for dinner and not all food has to come from the grocery store.

Of course, it doesn’t have to necessarily be a pay lake. A few hours at the local lake or reservoir nailing bluegills can accomplish the same thing, but I like the pay lake for the “guaranteed” nature of it. In a way, it’s also a reward to make up for the times when fishing isn’t so easy. And it doesn’t have to be expensive. Most of the time, these outings cost $50-60, less than a tank of gas, and considerably less than treating a family of four to dinner at a restaurant. And the memories made will last much longer.

Don’t Get Caught Up in the Pressure

Too many parents put too much pressure on themselves to make every experience perfect for their kids. I think it’s based in fear, that if their child isn’t successful or constantly entertained, then they won’t want to go again. But I’ve found that untrue.

Slow days on the water are bound to happen. Not every day can be a banner day. That’s fishing, and that’s life. The important thing is to remember that fishing is fun, whether you catch fish or not.

For instance, if my son’s or daughter’s attention starts to drift while we’re out, I have no problem at all just letting them play in the mud, splash around in the water, or flip rocks to look for creatures. In fact, I encourage them to explore and be curious about these things. Many times, I’ve found myself setting down my fishing rod and playing in the mud with them.

This is also why all screens are left at home when we go fishing. No phones, no iPads, no electronics of any kind. Our time outdoors is for connecting with the world around us, having discussions about what we see, hear, and smell, and talking about where we’ll go or what we’ll do next.

I know what you’re thinking: what if they get bored? Okay, so they might get bored with no screens to entertain them, but is that really such a bad thing? Boredom provides the perfect opportunity for kids to get creative, problem solve, and learn how to entertain themselves.

Truth be told, most of the problems I’ve experienced have resulted from parents spending more time on their phones than engaging with their kids while fishing. For many parents, it’s all about likes on social media – snap a photo, post it, and then spend the next hour checking their phone and responding to all the comments. It’s absurd and sends the wrong message to kids, and then they wonder why their kids don’t want to spend time with them.

Take A Kid Fishing

And finally, the absolute best way to get a kid started with fishing is just to take them fishing. Don’t worry about things being perfect. Don’t wait until you have more time.

Don’t put it off another week. Just go.

I didn’t get married and have my own kids until in my late 30s, but that didn’t stop me from taking my cousin’s two boys fishing on a regular basis all throughout my 20s. Any chance I got, I took my friends’ kids fishing, too. I just loved kids, I guess, and it made me happy to introduce them to the outdoors. Sometimes not being their parent is also an advantage, and kids will often take instruction from you more willingly than they would their own mother or father.

When Things Don’t Work Out

It’s imperative to keep in mind that nature is unpredictable. I’m a licensed fly fishing guide here in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and I’ve taken dozens of people fishing who were complete novices. I would love to say that every trip goes as planned, but that’s not always the case. Some days, even adults with fairly good coordination and reasonable attention spans struggle with fishing. It would be unreasonable to think that every time out with a kid is going to go exactly as planned, too.

That’s where grace comes in, I guess. You have to be willing to forget the times when everything feels like a struggle. Even when things don’t work out – the weather turns sour, the fish just don’t bite, the kids start fighting with each other – you have to be willing to brush it off and try again. Because it’s worth it. Taking the time to teach kids to fish and enjoy the outdoors is always worth it.